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March 19, 2024

Winning the West - RNC

  • Latest stories
  • Attacks on media may fail

    By J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 5, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — The image was arresting: Delegates to the Republican National Convention, fingers jabbing toward the crowd of assembled journalists as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin hurled invective at the press corps.

  • Ensign energizes first, pleads second

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 5, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — One sure way to whip the crowd to a roar at the Republican National Convention is this: Talk about freedom, throw in Ronald Reagan and invoke impassioned responses to yes-no questions.

  • Meal sponsorship tells tale of state parties’ strength

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 5, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — For all the questions directed at the Nevada Democratic Party on corporate sponsorship of events at the party’s convention last week, the state’s Republicans are suffering another kind of indignity: Digging into their pockets to pay for meals.

  • Palin energizes skeptical base

    By J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 4, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — For months the presidential election has been all about Barack Obama.

  • Black, proud of Obama, but voting her conscience — for McCain

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 4, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Thirty-six. That’s how many black delegates are reportedly at the Republican National Convention this week.

  • State’s delegation ecstatic over Palin

    By J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nevadans at the Republican National Convention are ecstatic about Sarah Palin, the surprise pick of Sen. John McCain to be the party’s vice presidential nominee.

  • Local supporters of Paul remain steadfast and fervent

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 3, 2008 · 2 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Balding and with bright but steady eyes, Wayne Terhune looks like just the kind of guy you want filling the cavity in your rotten tooth.

  • With creeping pessimism, partisans fight for party’s soul

    By J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 2, 2008 · 2:01 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Republican National Convention here is as much about the far-off future as it is about the November election. Here’s why: Although the party’s nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, has a strong shot at winning this fall, his age and health history — he’s had cancer — make him more likely to serve one term than any recent president.

  • How the GOP handles Gustav could ripple back to Nevada races

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 2, 2008 · 2:01 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — It’s not often that politics offers a do-over, especially one as dramatic and with such high stakes as Monday’s for the Republicans, as Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Gulf Coast.

  • Blogs from the Sun
  • McCain energizes Republicans

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 4, 2008 · 8:52 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — The speech is over. The balloons have fallen. “Barracuda,” in honor of Sarah “Barracuda” Palin blared from the sound system as Republican Sen. John McCain and his VP pick took a victory lap to the edge of the stage.

  • Protesters interrupt McCain

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 4, 2008 · 7:34 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Are you watching this? Protesters are interrupting Arizona Sen. John McCain's speech here tonight..

  • Bar talk positive toward Palin

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 4, 2008 · 11:39 a.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — No hangover in the Twin Cities, with conservatives having closed the bars and moved right on to bloody mary bars after Sarah Palin's impressive performance last night.

  • A lot different than Denver

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 3, 2008 · 9:24 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — A few closing thoughts as the evening here begins to close.

  • Sarah has left the building

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 3, 2008 · 8:39 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Vice Presidential pick Sarah Palin has left the hall, and so have half the attendees.

  • Hitting Harry hard

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 3, 2008 · 8:22 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — VP nominee Sarah Palin wasn’t kidding when she said the only difference between hockey moms and pit bulls was the hockey moms wore lipstick.

  • Drilling and drubbing

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 3, 2008 · 7:42 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Drilling good. Harry Reid bad.

  • Getting fired up

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 3, 2008 · 7:03 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — It's starting to look like a convention here.

  • Rudy wows the Republicans

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 6:36 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — They're not booing. They're saying "RUDY!!!!!!!!!"

  • Playing to the crowd

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 6:09 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Michael Steele, black Republican of Maryland and former lieutenant governor there, revving up the crowd.

  • Convention security tight, but polite

    Sam Morris · Sept. 3, 2008 · 5:57 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Threatened by hotel security with eviction if I shot (photos) or interviewed anyone else in the hotel.

  • Politics, policy and polls

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 4:56 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Inside the hall now. The Israel Project has left a press release for me at my seat.

  • Oratory as background noise

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 4:30 p.m.

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — An unfortunate aspect of these conventions, both Democrat and Republican, is that you often wind up with people making important speeches, interesting speeches, compelling speeches, while no one listening.

  • Cathedral evokes humility

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 2:28 p.m.

    Just walked up a hill to the Cathedral of St. Paul.

  • Raving over Rove

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 11:35 a.m.

    Karl Rove, in the lobby.

  • Adman not sold on McCain-Palin ticket

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 3, 2008 · 11:16 a.m.

    Republican advertising consultant, who seemed unaffiliated with the McCain campaign, totally off-message in the bar of The St. Paul last night.

  • Ensign and out-of-wedlock births

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 2, 2008 · 6:43 p.m.

    Nevada Sen. John Ensign surfaced at the Republican National Convention this afternoon and one of the first questions we asked was about his 1997 comment that “out of wedlock births need to be somewhat stigmatized.”

  • Paul takes the stage

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 2, 2008 · 5:52 p.m.

    Backstage at the Ron Paul Revolution event at an arena in Minneapolis. Some Paul-ites are discussing some story about how a Paul leader was in New York and confronted David Gergen about Bohemian Grove.

  • Krolicki is in the building

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 2, 2008 · 1:37 p.m.

    Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki has just arrived.

  • Rove in demand by media

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 2, 2008 · 1:17 p.m.

    Sitting in The St. Paul, the swanky hotel where the Nevada delegation is staying, and there is Karl Rove, a Sparks native.

  • Norquist blasts Obama

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 2, 2008 · 10:24 a.m.

    Grover Norquist, movement conservative extraordinaire, spoke to assembled Arizona delegates this morning at breakfast. Some Nevada delegates, not having their own breakfasts, have joined the Arizona folks.

  • Gibbons joins Nevada delegation

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 1, 2008 · 2:44 p.m.

    ST. PAUL -- Gov. Jim Gibbons arrived at the convention hall and has joined the Nevada delegation on the floor.

  • Celeb sightings in St. Paul

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 1, 2008 · 1:34 p.m.

    ST. PAUL -- I walked out of the Nevada delegation luncheon and into Jon Stewart.

  • McCain adviser: Candidate will be in Nevada ‘frequently’

    J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 1, 2008 · 12:04 p.m.

    DENVER -- Well, you saw what we saw as Sen. Barack Obama "with profound gratitude and great humility" accepted the Democratic party's presidential nomination.

  • Kempthorne applauded on energy strategy

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 1, 2008 · noon

    ST. PAUL -- Next up here at the Nevada delegation luncheon is Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, who just won applause for John McCain's support for an "all of the above" energy strategy and selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

  • Ron Paul supporters aren’t holding back

    Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 1, 2008 · 11:53 a.m.

    The Republicans may be scaling back the party here because of the hurricane in the Gulf Coast, but the Ron Paul contingent isn't holding back.

  • Lunch with the state delegation in St. Paul

    By J. Patrick Coolican · Sept. 1, 2008 · 10:30 a.m.

    I'm with the Nevada delegation at the stately St. Paul hotel for a delegation lunch. Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden is leading the lunch. Dallas Augustine, daughter of the murdered Kathy Augustine, and an Assembly candidate, is here. Lots of elected officials.

  • Nevada, Arizona GOP gather on convention’s first day

    By Lisa Mascaro · Sept. 1, 2008 · 10:21 a.m.

    Morning readers. It's Day One of the Republican National Convention. State Republicans are a little sparse at an Arizona-Nevada delegation breakfast.

  • As big as it looked

    By Lisa Mascaro · Aug. 28, 2008 · 8:46 p.m.

    DENVER -- Well, you saw what we saw as Sen. Barack Obama "with profound gratitude and great humility" accepted the Democratic party's presidential nomination.

  • GOP settles in for more low-key convention

    By Lisa Mascaro · Aug. 31, 2008 · 5:48 p.m.

    Is it fair to judge a convention by its buttons? After the 80,000-supporters-plus that were at the Democratic National Convention last week in Denver, the Republican National Convention here in the Twin Cities was already billed as a more low-key affair.